The Partnership Movement Highlights Badger Meter’s Support of the Arts

Badger Meter

A Champion for STEAM and Innovation

Milwaukee, Wisconsin based Badger Meter is an innovator in flow measurement and control products, serving water utilities, municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers worldwide.

At the headquarters, Badger Meter features a now iconic fountain sculpture and artwork in the reception area. Commissioned in 1957, these works were created by the Milwaukee-born, precisionist artist, Edmund Lewandowski, and students of the precursor to MIAD, the Layton School of Art. In addition, each holiday season the company prominently displays a life size nativity scene created by local sculptor, designer and craftsman, Dick Wiken.

In 2015, Badger Meter employees participated in Present Music’s innovative community outreach program, Compose Milwaukee. Written and performed by employees of Badger Meter in a concert at the Milwaukee Art Museum, The Discovery of Water featured orchestration of pouring water, and percussion using glass bottles and even bronze water meter bodies. In 2016, Badger Meter was honored as a winner of the BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America.

Every year Badger Meter and its employees provide generous amounts of time and financial support to arts-related causes. Badger Meter pursues a variety of strategies for employee recruitment and retention, believing strongly in cultivating local and regional talent, and the need to retain this talented and valuable workforce. The company’s approach to maintaining its skilled workforce includes altruistic support of the arts and active encouragement of participation in charitable causes. They know employees believe it is important make a difference in the world.

Through the company’s support of United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF),

Badger Meter routinely makes tickets available to employees for various performances, and encourages employees and their families to attend. This serves to both reinforce their commitment to the arts, and also provides additional opportunities for employees to enjoy them.

In addition to their annual support of UPAF, Badger Meter also supports the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Wisconsin Art, and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Under President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Rich Meeusen, Badger Meter has continued with its long time commitment to support and foster the arts. Meeusen is a key spokesperson for the need for STEAM vs. STEM. The STEM philosophy emphasizes education and innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEAM is a movement that adds Art and Design to this equation, which transforms research policy, encourages integration in education, and influences employers to hire artists and designers to drive innovation. Innovation is a key component of any business’ objectives, and this is no different for Badger Meter. A culture of creativity, innovation and design have driven the development of new products and helped to maintain their leadership position in the water utility metering market.

With one of Meeusen’s specific passions being a commitment to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality arts education, UPAF Notable Women, an affinity program designed to help fulfill the critical need for arts education for the next generation, was born from many of his ideas during his UPAF chairmanship.

In 2014, UPAF presented Meeusen with the Mrs. Walter H. Stiemke Award, in appreciation for his service to the arts. Meeusen’s commitment to the community have made him an invaluable asset to the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). His role in reconstituting UPAF’s board of directors was instrumental in improving the effectiveness of the organization, leading to greater efficiencies, and the ability to raise ever-increasing funds to support the region’s most important performing arts institutions. With Meeusen’s direction, the board’s focus became clearly aligned with the UPAF organization’s mission of ensuring the sustainability of performing arts culture.

You can see Rich Meeusen’s expressive and crucial remarks about championing the arts in his 2016 BCA 10 acceptance speech.

Badger Meter and its leadership recognizes the importance of the arts for its employees and communities in which they work. Badger Meter recognizes the arts’ role in fostering a happy and innovative workforce.

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